Trafficking of illegal immigrants could have been the source of the large sums of money

As the trial by jury against a 43-year-old woman and her 23-year-old daughter charged with money laundering continued on Tuesday, the Prosecution focused its attention on the criminal record of their respective husband and father.Carmen Butler and her daughter Stephanie are being charged with depositing large sums of money into a bank account despite they knew the cash was coming from criminal activities, thereby getting involved in money laundering. According to the police investigations, the cash was coming from the criminal activities carried out by Charles Butler, their respective husband and father, who is well-known to the police. Money came from various criminal activities
While taking the witness stand, police inspector Paul Vassallo told the Court that Charles Butler was involved in various criminal activities and had been found guilty of theft and falsification.

Moreover, the police inspector went on, he had been found guilty of trafficking illegal immigrants in Italy and homicide during one of the trips.

The inspector insisted that the trafficking of illegal immigrants could have been the source of the large sums of money. Carmen Butler had asked for social benefits The Court also heard the testimony of an official at the Foreign Affairs Ministry who was involved in the extradition process of Charles Butler to Italy, where he was wanted over human trafficking charges. He recalled how Carmen Butler had talked to him twice over her husband’s case and had asked for social assistance while he was in Italy the face the charges. Caught trafficking illegal immigrants Police superintendent Neville Xuereb told the Court that Charles Butler and Carmelo Buhagiar had been arrested on August 18, 1998 when they were found aboard a boat with six illegal immigrants. The Italian Court had found the two men guilty of human trafficking and given them a suspended sentence. According to the immigrants, they had paid $850 each for the trip. Jailed for 22 years over homicide Following an incident in which an illegal immigrant died in Italian waters, a request had been made for Charles Butler’s extradition to Italy while he was receiving medical treatment in the UK, inspector Sandro Zarb told the Court. The inspector added that the man was wanted over human trafficking and homicide charges, and was eventually sentenced to 22 years imprisonment after he was found guilty in 2006. Investigated over thefts Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo said that Charles Butler had been involved in at least two thefts, one of a vehicle and another of various items. The stolen vehicle had been sold to a Gozitan dealer, who told the police he had purchased it from Charles Butler and Emanuel Buhagiar.